The Linux kernel in 2020 added quite a few new features and improved other features while still keeping pace with the punctual new hardware support.
For a look back at the major changes in the core of the past year, for some New Year’s Day reading / entertainment, below is a look back at the most popular Linux core news stories.
The AMD Radeon Graphics Driver makes up about 10.5% of the Linux kernel
Given the impending release of Linux 5.9, I had some fun with cloc today and looked at the current lines code count for this almost final Linux 5.9 kernel state.
Linus Torvalds just made a big optimization to help the compilation times on large processors
For those who use GNU Make in particular as their building system, the parallel build times will start much faster with Linux 5.6 for large core counting systems. This landing, just after the AMD Threadripper 3990X 64-core / 128-wire CPU launch, is one example of systems to take advantage of this core change if you compile a lot of code and use a lot of GNU Make-take.
Torvalds’ Comments on Linux Scheduler Hectic: “Pure Garbage”
As you may recall a few days ago, there was information about the Linux kernel scheduler that was causing problems for Google Stadium game developers. The scheduler was to blame and especially Linux’s rotary shutters. Linus Torvalds has now commented on the matter.
Linus Torvalds does not recommend using ZFS on Linux
Linus Torvalds, creator of Linux kernels, does not recommend using at least ZFS on Linux until Oracle re-licenses the code to make it friendly for the mainline inclusion. But even then, it does not seem to be turned on by the ZFS features or overall performance.
Google publishes latest Linux kernel plans so that only trusted tasks share a kernel
Google Engineer Joel Fernandes has released the ninth version of their “kernel scheduling” stickers for the Linux kernel that allows only trusted tasks to run on the same CPU kernel at a time – in cases where Hyper Threading is involved around the system against the possible security exceptions.
The new Microsoft exFAT file system manager can land with Linux 5.7
Linux 5.4 brought a provisional Microsoft exFAT file system manager after Microsoft released the exFAT specification and encouraged support for Linux. But with the Linux 5.7 kernel this spring, a new exFAT file system manager is going to land, which is a much improved version of the previous code.
Torvalds explodes ‘Beyond Stupid’ flushing L1d on context switches – currently returning the code
As part of the initial set of changes that were put together today for Linux 5.8, the x86 / mm material was the controversial feature of the growth of the L1 data box during context change. Eventually Linus Torvalds decides to withdraw this feature because he considers it crazy for now.
Linux 5.8 configured to possibly flush the L1d cache on context switch to increase security
The Linux core stickers that were prompted by Amazon AWS engineers to flush the L1 data box on each context switch are now lined up in the x86 / mm branch ahead of the upcoming Linux 5.8 core cycle.
XFS file system with Linux 5.10 Points Year 2038 Problem until the year 2486
Not only do Btrfs see significant improvements with the Linux 5.10 kernel developed, but the XFS file system also has some prominent changes.
The Linux Kernel’s Scheduler seems to be causing problems for Google Stadium Game developers
One of the problems that game developers are having to bring their games to Linux for Google’s Stadium cloud game service to Linux seems to stem from issues with core schedules. We knew that the Linux kernel planner could use improvements, and independent developers like Con Kolivas with BFS / MuQSS insisted on it, but hopefully we’ll see some real action in 2020.
The Linux kernel starts in 2020 on 27.8 million lines in Git, but with fewer developers for 2019
This morning in the Git source tree of Linux kernel, the kernel weighs 27.8 million lines!
Linus Torvalds’s Initial Comment on Rust Code Prospects Within the Linux Core
Core developers seem eager to discuss the benefits of allowing Rust code possibly in the Linux kernel. Linus Torvalds himself made some first remarks on the subject before the Linux Plumbers 2020 conference where the matter will be discussed in detail.
The Linux kernel weakens the encoding style of 80 character lines
The Linux kernel has officially disapproved of its encoding style that the length of code lines meets 80 columns as the “strong preference limit”.
Former Linux developer Hans Reiser to stay locked up
Hard to believe that former Linux developer Hans Reiser is already eligible for parole, but it was denied this month. The former developer responsible for creating the once promising ReiserFS and Reiser4 file systems will remain locked up for at least another three years.
Cachy is the latest attempt to provide a better Linux CPU scheduler
Cachy is a Linux CPU scheduler that has attracted a bit of attention over the past month aimed at making optimal use of CPU cache memory and based on an HRRN (Highest Response Ration Next) policy.
Linux to increase the ability to write to CPU MSRs from user space
The Linux 5.9 kernel will start introducing new restrictions on allowing writing to CPU model-specific registers (MSRs) from the user space.
Linux 5.6 looks like it will be spectacular with a long list of features
Linux 5.5 will probably be released later today and with it many new features. But once 5.5 is released, it’s opening the Linux 5.6 merge window, and this next kernel has us particularly excited … It’s definitely going to be one of the most exciting kernel cycles lately with many blockbuster- features and enhancements.
Linux Patch proposed to double Raspberry Pi 4 transfer speed to dual eMMC / SD storage
Manjaro Linux developer Tobias Schramm has revealed that only single data rate mode is currently used for micro-SD cards and eMMC storage with Raspberry Pi 4 Model B SBCs. But with a two-line core patch, dual data rate mode can be activated.
Linux Developers Can Discuss Enabling Root Code Into Core
A Google engineer wants to discuss the possibility of allowing support in the Rust language at Linux’s plumbing conference this year.
The time slot finally appears to be on deck for the mainline Linux kernel
Back in 2018, a timeline space for the Linux kernel was proposed and it looks like in 2020 this core functionality will be merged for the mainline, probably with the upcoming Linux 5.6 cycle.
Western Digital Introduces Zonefs File System for Linux 5.6
One of the last features that landed for Linux 5.6 today before closing the merge window is the Zonefs file system from Western Digital.
Linux 5.9 provides protection after NVIDIA’s recent “GPL Condom” incident
Due to recent discussions about NVIDIA NetGPU code relying on a different template for the interface between NVIDIA’s own driver and the open source kernel code, a new patch is on the way for Linux 5.9 to fight back against such attempts .
Btrfs Async Discard Support Looks Like It’s Ready for Linux 5.6
After months of work by Facebook engineers, the new async discard support for Btrfs seems ready for the upcoming Linux 5.6 cycle as a win for this Linux solid state file storage system using TRIM / DISCARD features.
Linux 5.5 ready to shine with Navi overclocking, Raspberry Pi 4 support, Wake-On-Voice
All agree that the Linux 5.5 kernel is likely to be released this coming Sunday, rather than printing for another week of testing.
Thanks Oracle! Pending new patches could reduce Linux startup times to ~ 49%
While many are not too keen on looking at Oracle’s open source software contributions, some new stickers that their team is working out could dramatically benefit from the startup times of Linux kernels, and they’re working to get it upstream. The numbers are already very promising and further work is being done to make the improvement even more tantalizing.
FAT file system manager for Linux sees patch to work faster
At the same time as Linux is receiving a new exFAT driver, the Linux kernel is still seeing improvements to its classic FAT file system code.
Core developers work to block NVIDIA’s “GPL condom” attempt around new NetGPU code
Linux kernel developers are working to sharpen access to kernel symbols and kernel shims that link only to their own kernel modules. This latest work is driven by code recently offered to improve the Linux network code, where NVIDIA’s own core driver would be the initial consumer.
Red Hat against SUSE against canonical contributions to the mainline Linux kernel during the 2010s
After looking at the AMD / Intel / NVIDIA contributions to the mainline Linux kernel over the past number of years last week, there were reader requests to see how some of the top distributions compare, namely Red Hat, SUSE and Canonical.
Linux 5.6 is the first kernel for 32-bit systems ready to complete last year 2038
Aside from all the spectacular work that Linux 5.6 delivers, here’s another big improvement that has gone under my radar to this day: Linux 5.6 is the first main kernel ready for 32-bit systems that are past the year 2038!
New Linux system call proposed to allow user space themselves to specific CPU core points
A “Pin_on_cpu” system call has been proposed for the Linux kernel as a new way to get user space threads attached to specific CPU cores.